Machine for tapping blast-furnaces.



B J. MULLEN. MACHINE FOR TA'PPING BLAST FURNACES.

v APPLICATtON FILED 1AN.28, I915. 1,276,251. Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHE'E1" l.

AME

INVENTOR B. J. MULLEN.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING BLAST FURNACES.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN-28119155 1,276,%51.

B. J. MULLEN.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-28' I9l5.

& 1 4 1...} m wm m i H m m dm %5 mv h R Q 0 "NB-I L 5 a .2 M E 6 mfl W M 9 =1 BENJAMIN J'. MULLE1\T, OF-LEETONIA, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING BLAST-FURNACES..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. MUL- LEN, residing at Leetonia, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improve.- ments in Machines for Tapping Blast-Furnaces, of which improvements the'following is a specification.

In opening iron notches or tapping holes of blast furnaces, the prevailing practice is to have a crew of men operate a hand drill until a certain depth has been reached, and this usually requires upward of twenty min- .utes. The drill is then removed and a bar is driven, by means of sledges, into the notch until the molten iron is reached. Frequently the bar, thus driven, sticks in the hole, and the crew must sledge backwardly to withdraw it. v

This operation, even under normal working conditions, is obviously ineflicient and expensive, and is dangerous to the workmen. To operate the drillsand swing the sledges, it is essential that the workmen stand uncomfortably close to the furnace, and, when iron is reached (and there is no certainty as to whenit will be), they are liable to be burned by the out-rushing metal.

However, the greater difficulties and dan- I 'gers arise under abnormal working condrtions. For example,it occasionally ha pens that the molten metal or cinder buil s up to, and flows into, the blow-pipes, rendering them liable to burn through or burst at any moment. It is then imperative that the iron be withdrawn from the furnace as soon as ossible, and the necessary delay in opening the notch in the manner described above is a matter liable to' give rise to grave consequences. streamsof water are played upon the blow pipes and the tapping crew set to opening the notch, and in case a blow pipe near the notch bursts, there is little if any chance for them to escape with their lives. This building-up of the molten iron and cinder within the furnace may be a direct result of loosing the notch,that is, having the notch become filled or partly filled with frozen iron.

When this happens a new hole must be drilled through the furnace wall, and this,

.byi the hand operation, requires so much ,time that the metal may build-up to the ;.danger point, or, to prevent this, the nace must be shut down.

fur-

Specification of Letters Batent.

' a safe distance from the furnaces. speclfic objects are to provide a blast furnace Under such circumstances Patented. Aug. 2c, 1918.

Application filed January 28, 1915. Serial No. 4,918.

These and various other contingencies, well knownto those familiar with the operation of blastfurnaces, may arise at any time, and they are largely due to, or accentuated by, the inadequacy of, and the delay incident to, the prevailing practice in open ing iron notches- It is the object of my invention'to provide an adequate machine for quickly opening the notches of blast furnaces, or forming new notches, and which may be operatgg at ore tapping machine which may be so adjusted that the drill or othertool may be operated at various angles of inclination and. planes of elevation; which will drive or withdraw 1 a bar, aswell as operate a drill; which may be fed forwardly either manually or automatically; which may be rapidlyadvanced to or removed from operative po'sltion; and

which will be adequately protected against the dust conditions of furnace operation.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, which form part of my specification, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention. However,it will be understood that my invention may be embodiedi'n various other forms of machine for the intended purpose. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine in its operative position beside a blast furnace, a portion of the furnace hearth-being shown in section; Fig. 2 a side elevation, to enlarged scale, of the machine of Fig.1, a portion of the protecting casing being broken away; Fig. 3 a plan view of the machine with the casing entirely removed; Figs. 4 and 5 transverse sectional viewstaken, respectively, on the lines IV, IV and V, V, Fig. 3; Fig. 6 a combined sec tional view and elevation taken on the broken line VI'VI, Fig. 3; Fig. 7 a sectional view taken on the line VII VII, Fig. 3; Figs. 8 and 9 are plan views of a detail of construction; Fig. 10 an end view. of the withdrawing bar shown in Fig. 9; and Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, end and plan views of the machine showing the casing.

The tapping machine which I provide is preferably so constructed that it .may be moved from one furnace to another to be used when required, and for this purpose the entire machine may be moved, or suit-1 able frames or supports may be provided at' nism preferably comprises, and, as shown .proper is preferably so mounted that -the rod or drill 7 may be caused to operate in different planes of elevation and at difierent angles of inclination. Such tapping mechaherein, consists of means for reciprocating the tool, means for rotating it on its axis or line of reciprocation, means for advancing or feeding it into the notch as the clay or filling material is drilled therefrom, means for projecting a stream of pressure fluid through the drill for keeping it cool and for clearing the notch of the material loosened therefrom, means for driving a bar intothe notch after sufficient material has been drilled therefrom, means for withdrawing the bar from the notch, and a protecting casing for the mechanism. In the detail description of the machine, the adjustable mounting of the tapping mechanism will first be explained, and then its several said operating elements.

While the support or frame may be of any suitable form or construction, that shown herein consists of two pedestal plates 8, 8 disposed at opposite sides of the trough 1. Each plate is provided near its ends with upwardly extending arms 9 adapted to receive, and to form bearings, for shafts 10 and 11, from which the tapping mechanism may be suspended or otherwise supported. As heretofore stated, such mechanism may be removed from the supports at one furnace and placed upon those at another, or the entire machine may be moved. To thisend each arm 9 is provided with a cap- 12, pivoted at one side thereof, and adapted to be held in closed position by a clamping bolt 13, pivoted'to the arm and engaging the ether side of the cap. With such construction, the entire machine may be moved with a crane by engaging either the supports 8, 8, or, when the caps 12 are closed, the shafts 10 and 11, and the tapping mechanism may be moved, independently of the supports, by releasing the bolts 13 and engaging said shafts.

The frame for supporting the tapping mechanism may be of any suitable construction. In the present embodiment of my invention such frame comprises a pair of channels 14, 14 rigidly connected together at one end by an angle 15, and at the other end by a cross-frame 16. The channels extend longitudinally of, and are disposed between, the supports 8, 8, and they are sus pended from the rotatable shafts 10 and 11 by means of four chains 17 extending over suitable chain wheels 18, two of-which are secured to each of said shafts. The weight of the rear and heavier end of the frame and mechanism carried thereby may be counterbalanced by means of a weighted chain 25 extending over a chain wheel 26 secured to the shaft 11. For adjusting the frame to cause the mechanism and tool attached to it to operate at various elevations and angles of inclination, the shafts 10 and 11 may be turned, as bv crank arms 19 and or drill 7 preferably consists of a fluid-pressure engine, comprising a cylinder 27, piston 28 and valve chest 29. Steam or compressed air may be led to the valve chest through a pipe 30, which is flexible to permit the cylinder to be moved, and which is attached to a supply pipe 87, extending through the housing explained hereinafter. The cylinder is supported by means of laterally projecting arms 31, 31, which slidably engage tracks 32, 32, attached to the channels 14, 14, and, in a similar manner, the piston rod is provided with a cross-head 33, which slidably engages such tracks.

The flow of steam or air to and from opposite ends of the cylinder may be controlled either automatically or manually. The

- automatic control may be effected by a link 34 pivoted at one end to the cross-head 33, and having at its opposite end an open ended slot, adapted to receive a pin 35, projecting laterally from an arm 36, which arm is connected to the valve-operating rod 37. When, for purposes fully explained hereinafter, it is desirable to control and vary the stroke of the piston rod, the link 34 may be lifted from its engagement with the pin 35, and the rod 37 oscillated by means of a handle 38, shown in dotted lines in the drawings, and removably attached to an up- 1 wardly projecting portion of the arm 36.

The drill 7, or such other tool as may be connected to, and operated by, the reciprocatory piston rod, is fed forwardly preferably by advancing'the cylinder 27. To this end two means are provided, one manually, and the other automatically operable, the latter being cotirdinated with the reciprocation of the piston rod. In the present embodiment of my invention there are two screws 39, 39, rotatably attached to the channels 14, 14, respectively, and

provided at their ends with bevel pinions 40, 40 which mesh with bevel pinions 41,;

mechanism attached to it, either forwardly or rearwardly. This may be done manually by means of a crank 43, detachably connected to the shaft 42, such crank being shown in dotted lines in the drawings. I The.

' automatic rotation of the screws, and. the

consequent forward feeding of the. cylinder, is preferably effected by a' pawl and ratchet connection. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, a shaft 44 is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in an arm 45 and the cross frame 16, and is provided with a pinion 48 adapted to mesh with a pinion- 49 secured to the shaft 42. To the shaft 44 there is feathered a bevel pinion 46, which meshes with a second pinion 47, secured to a stub shaft 50, rotatably mounted in an arm or frame 51, secured to the cylinder 27.

A ratchet wheel 52 is rigidly secured to the shaft 50, and an arm 53 provided with a pawl 54, is rotatably mounted thereon. A"

link 55 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the cross-head 33 and to the arm for example, when the molten iron has been '53, the latter connection being adjustable, J

as by the holes 56, to vary the effective stroke of the pawl. By such an arrangement, each forward stroke of the piston rod effects an advance of the cylinder 27, the connections being through cross-head 33, link 55, arm 53, awl 54, ratchet .52, shaft 50, pinions 4 and 46, shaft I 44, pinions 48 and 49, shaft 42, pinions 41, 41

and 40, 40 screws 39, 39 and arm 31, 31.

It is obvious that, by reversing the; pawl and ratchet, the feeding may be effected upon the rearward stroke of the piston.

When, during the reciprocation of the piston, it isdesirable to manually feed the cylinder forwardly, the pawl 54 may be thrown from ratchet engaging position.

A still further means is provided for moving the tapping mechanism longitudinally of its supporting frame, such means being adapted to move the mechanism rapidly, as,

reached, or when it becomes necessary to remove one tool from, and attach another to,

. the cross-head. Any suitable motor may be used for this purpose. As shown herein, I provide an electric motor 57, operatively connected, through pinions 58 and 59 to the shaft 42, and suitably mounted on a table 60 attached .to the cross-frame 16. 'When such motor is set; in operation to withdraw the mechanism ,'.the pawl 54 may be thrown from engagement with the ratchet 52 however, to eliminate such step, a finger 61, Fig.

7, is attached to the frame 51 in such position that, when the cross-head is nearest to the cylinder, the pawl will be held in the position shown. The motor 57 may then be operated to move the mechanism as desired.

It has already been stated that the tapping mechanism shown herein also includes means for rotating the drill. The construction for this purpose is preferably such that the drill'is, upon each rearward movement of the piston, turned through such an angle that the teeth will not, strike the same points on' successive strokes. In the present construction the drill 7 has four teeth and the drill-rotating mechanism efi'ects approximately a 45 degree turning thereof. This is preferably accomplished. by apawl and ratchet connection shown particularly in 'Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6. A block 62 is "suitably attached to the cross-head 33, and, in an opening thereof, astub shaft 63 is rotatably mounted, on which shaft a ratchet wheel 64 is keyed. An arm 65, pivoted as at 66 tothe being such that, as the cross head 33 moves rearwardly, the curved portion of the arm will strike, and be lifted upwardl by, a roller 68, attached to the cylinder 2 This movement of the arm will, through pawl 67 and ratchet 64, cause the shaft 63 to turn. As will be seen, the drill 7 is suitably attached to the outer end of theshaft 63, as by a U-boIt 69 extending through a collar 70 at the end of the drill. Thus the drill will be turned with the connecting shaft 63, and may be quickly attached to, or disconnected from, such shaft.

To the end that the drill may be cooled "and the loosened material removed from the notch, a stream of. air is projected through the drill. The connections for this purpose are preferably through described, the drill head 33 being provided with suitable passage-ways communicating with a flexible air-supply tube 71, connected to the crosshead.

The reciprocation of the piston may be used to drive a bar into, or withdraw it from a notch, as well as to operate a drill inthe the mechanism just shaft 63 and crossmanneralready described. For driving the Q ceive clamping bolts 74, pivoted to the block 62. A bar 75, having an enlarged end 76 (Fig. 9) may be driven by causing the head .72 to hammer against it.. For withdrawing the bar 75 I provide a claw-bar 77, hown in Figs. 9 and 10, and also. adapted bar I provide a suitable hammering tool adapted to be quickly attached to the block 62. Such head may, as illustrated in Fig.

to be quickly attached to the block 62. a..

claw-end of the bar 77 by means of a pin 92. The withdrawing may be effected either by the motor 57 or by the reciprocation of the piston rod, but since it usually requires considerable effort to loosen the bar, the latter course will usually be adopted. Furthermore, in driving and Withdrawing the bar by means of the reciprocation of the piston, the stroke thereof may be controlled manually by means of the operating handle 38, as already explained.

It is well understood that blast furnace operation is attended by an unusual amount of dust. Consequently, the successful opera tion of a tapping mechanism, such as I have described above, would be seriously impaired unless means were provided to prevent the dust from settling upon the operating parts. For thisrpurpose the tapping mechanism is inclosed in a casing or housing so constructed that, when desired, access may be readily had to such mechanism. The housing may, as shown herein, comprise a bottom plate 7 8 secured to the channels 14,

14, and end and cover portions, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 11 and 12. The front end, as shown in Fig. 11, is provided with a hinged door 79, whereby the changing of operating drills or other tools may be facilitated. he top of the housing, between the adjusting shafts is supported on suitable transverse ribs 80 secured to the channels 14, 14. One portion 81 of the top may be rigidly attached to such ribs, and the other portion 82 hinged, as at 83, to the fixed portion. As will be seen, the housing completely incloses the operating mechanism and is movable therewith independently of the supports 8, 8. To prevent dust rom entering the casing through such apertures as may be therein, the air pressure within the casin may, by means of compressed air, be kept s ightly above that of the surroundin atmosphere. For this purpose, a suitab e valve-provided pipe 84 projects through the casing, as seen in Fig. 12. The pipe ma be attached to an air supply pipe 85, whic may also be connected to a pipe 86, adapted to be attached to the flexible tube 71 for supplying plained.

In describing the operation of the tapping machine and its adaptability for its intended purpose, all the various steps that may be involved in opening a single notch will be explained. It has already been shown that a support may be provided for each furmace and the operating mechanism moved from one to the other as desired, or that the entire machine may be moved. The machine air to the drill, as already exeffected by turning, through cranks 19 and 20, the shafts 10 and 11. If the mechanism is to be manually fed forwardly, the pawl 54, Fig. 7 is thrown from engagement with the ratchet 52;'if an automatic feed is desired, the pawl remains in its indicated position. In either event, the feeding is 'cf fectcd by rotating the shaft 42, the manual feeding by turning the crank 43, and the automatic throughthe shaft 44. Ordinarily, the reciprocation of the piston to operate the drill will be continuous and automatic; if, however, it is desirable to control it manually the link 34 may be disengaged from the pin 35, and the operating handle 38 attached to the arm 36. It will be assumed that the feeding of the mechanism, as well as the reciprocation of the piston, is to be automatic. Steam or air is admitted, through pipes 87 and 30, t the c 'lindcr 20 to set themechanism in operation. The feeding of the mechanism forwardly is coordinated with the reciprocation of the piston, and is effected through link 55, arm 53,

aWl 54, ratchet 52, shaft 50, pinions 47 and 46, shaft 44, pinions 48 and 49, shaft 42, pinions 41, 41 and 40, 40, and screws 39,

.39. The rotation of the drill is also 00- ordinated with the reciprocation of the piston, and is effected on the return thereof each time the curved portion of arm (35 strikes, and is lifted by, the roller (58. The connections for this purpose are the pawl (37 and ratchet 64. During the drilling operation air is caused to flow from the tube 71 through the drill for cooling itand for removing the loosened material from the notch.

When the drilling oporal ion is completed, and this Will usually be before iron has been reached, the reciprocation of the piston will be stopped when at the end of a rearward stroke, the-pawl 54, at such position of the piston being held by the finger (51 from engagement with the ratchet 52. The mechanism may then be quickly witlulrawn by setting in operation the motor 57, wlnch, through pinions 58 and 59, will drive the shaft 42 in the opposite direction to that required for feeding the mechanism. The housing lid 82 is then lifted, the drill 7 uncoupled by removing the U-bolt 69, and the hammering head 72 clamped to the block 33. The bar 75 being substituted for the drill, the piston may be reciprocated to ham mer such .bar into the notch, the stroke of the piston preferably being controlled manually by the handle 38; 1f the bar should and the claw 77 attached to the block 62..

The bar 75 being engaged by the claw, the reciprocation of the piston will then be effective to hammer such bar rearwardly;

It is characteristic of the tapping machine which I have described that it may be adjusted to operate a drill or other tool at any desired elevation or angle of inclination, and as a result thereof the same machine may be used to tap differently disposed blast furnace notches, or to drill through the furnace Wall or hearth in case the notch is lost. Furthermore, the construction is such that the various essential steps in opening a notch may quickly be effeeted, and that the workman may always stand at a safe distance from the furnace.

While I have described my machine in its,

adaptability to open an iron notch, it will be understood that it may be used to open a cinder notch in case such notch should be lost.

I claim as my invention: I 1. In a machine for tapping blast furnaces, the combination of a portable elongate supporting frame adapted to rest upon the floor of a furnace house, a tapping mechanism adjustably supported at its opposite ends by said frame, and means for separately adjusting each of said supported ends of the tapping mechanism, whereby such mechanism may be caused to operate in different planes of elevation and at different angles of inclination.

2. In a machine for tapping blast furnaces, the combination of a portable elongate supporting frame formed of a pair of vertically disposed side plates adapted to rest upon the floor of a furnace house, a tappingmechanism adjustably supported at its ends by and between said plates, and means for separately adjusting each of said supported ends of the tapping mechanism,

whereby such mechanism may be caused to operate in different planes of elevation and at difierent angles of inclination.

3. A machine'for tappingblast furnaces comprising a support, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted in said support, a frame suspended from and movable to different planes by the rotation of said shafts, and atapping mechanism borne by said frame and including' a tool-moving member and means for moving said member.

4. A machine for tapping blast furnaces, comprising a support, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted in the ends of said support, a frame suspended from and vertically movable to different planes by'the rotation-of said shafts, a tapping mechanism borne by said frame and including a tool-moving member, and means forholding said frame against longitudinal movement during the operation of the mechanism.

5. In a machine for tapping blast furnaces, the combination of a frame, a reciprocatory fluid pressure engine mounted for longitudinal movement thereon and comprising a cylinder and a piston, feed screw connections between said frame and engine, means for attaching a tapping tool to said piston, and ciprocation of said piston for effecting anintermittent forward advance of said engine upon said feed screw.

6. In a machine for tapping blast furnaces,'the combination of a frame, a reciprocatory fluid pressure engine mounted for longitudinal movement thereon and comprising a cylinder and a piston, means for attaching a tapping tool to said piston, a feed screw rotatably mounted in said frame and operatively connected to said cylinder, and means coordinated with the reciprocation of said piston for effecting an intermittent turning of said feed screw to automatically feed said cylinder forwardly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN J. MULLEN.

Witnesses PAUL N. CRrro Low, LoUIs G. IoNA'rA. 

